Florida Liquor Liability Insurance Policy Information

Florida Liquor Liability Insurance. Everyone knows that too much booze is never a good thing. It can result in you saying something you don't mean. Lead to you injuring yourself - or others. It can even result in death from alcohol poisoning or a serious accident. In a legal case like an accident involving alcohol, the intoxicated person is usually held liable for their actions. What about the people who were serving them, though? Can they be held accountable for not cutting people off sooner? Can you hold them liable?

The answer is Yes. Most major events and entertainment hotspots that serve alcoholic beverages may be held responsible for the unlawful actions of intoxicated customers. To cover liabilities, the owners of these entertainment spots usually take measures to limit their risk of liability, but they will still need to protect their business with a suitable Florida liquor liability insurance policy.

Florida liquor liability insurance protects your establishment or event from unlawful actions of intoxicated customers with rates as low as $37/mo. Get a fast quote and protect business now.

FL Legal Liability Insurance

The Commercial General Liability Coverage Form specifically excludes liquor related losses if your business sells, manufactures, distributes, serves, or furnishes liquor. In addition, many insurance companies exclude liquor coverage by endorsement for any operation that regularly serves liquor on or off premises, even though they are not considered "in the business." If your business has a liquor exposure - Liquor Liability Coverage is a must.

This insurance provides coverage for bodily injury or property damage for which you may become legally liable as the result of contributing to a person's intoxication. This coverage is provided by a separate policy and will only cover establishments 'in the business of' manufacturing, selling, distributing, or serving alcoholic beverages for a charge.

The language of Florida liquor liability insurance policies can vary, but in general - the insurance company agrees to pay amounts you become legally obligated to pay as damages because of liquor-related injury that this insurance covers. The liability must be imposed because of injury caused by someone to whom you sold, served, or furnished alcoholic beverages. The insurance company also defends you against any suit that seeks damages but only if the coverage provided applies to the damages claimed.

Am I Covered If I Serve Alcohol Offsite?

This oversight is common when buying Florida liquor liability insurance, so you should not assume that your policy protects you from liabilities resulting from liquor served offsite. Often, a catering add-on can be included to your coverage to give protection for offsite service. Before you pop a single beer away from your premises, you need to know for sure if your policy includes a catering supplement.

Who Needs Liquor Legal Liability Insurance?

Any FL establishment that serves alcoholic beverages, since it's exposed to law suits charging that they served liquor to intoxicated persons who was later involved in an accident. Service businesses like restaurants, hotels, taverns, sports bars, package stores, halls and private and fraternal clubs, nightclubs, riverboat casinos, bowling alleys, special events and even bed and breakfasts, are common businesses than need liquor legal liability insurance.

Buying Liquor Liability Insurance

Insurance for bars, taverns, and night clubs require a more complex scope of coverages than your standard restaurant policy. When written incorrectly, there can be important coverages left out and possibly major exclusions, leaving your business and personal finances at risk.

Ensure your policy includes 'Assault and Battery Coverage'. Many claims against bars and restaurants result from fights. Yet, some of these claims may be excluded by the expected or intended injury exclusion that appears in many liquor liability policies. Fortunately, you can buy back this coverage by purchasing insurance for assault and battery claims. A liquor liability insurance policy that does not cover assault and battery has limited value.

Have Your Heard Of Dram Shop Laws?

Truly understanding what your current liquor liability coverage offers is a vital to the success of any establishment serving or allowing the consumption of alcohol on the premises. 38 US states carry a different set of laws for establishments that deal with alcohol, called Dram Shop laws. These are laws that make businesses that sell alcoholic drinks or hosts who serve liquor to individuals who are obviously intoxicated, strictly liable to other people who sustain injuries caused by the drunken individual.

Manage Your Risk

In addition to purchasing FL liquor liability insurance insurance, businesses need to be proactive in reducing their liquor induced claims. From instructing employees to decline serving alcohol to obviously intoxicated individuals, to demanding strict measuring of all mixed drinks, to pushing for use of designated drivers or taxis, you can lower your likelihood of suffering liquor liability claims by implementing and imposing safe alcohol-serving practices.

Florida Economic Data And Commercial Insurance Requirements

If you are thinking about starting up a business in the state of Florida, it's important to understand the economic standing of the state before you set up shop. Furthermore, you should understand the rules and regulations regarding FL commercial insurance.

With this information, you will be able to determine if Florida is the right place for your business, and if so, what type of insurance you will need to carry to protect yourself, your employees, and the people that you serve.

Economic Trends For Businesses In FL

Florida is known as the sunshine state, and the economic outlook for this state is just as bright as the weather. It is estimated that the economy in Florida will reach $1 trillion by the end of the 2019 calendar year. However, while financially, the economy is expected to boom, it is forecasted that job growth will decline.

The reason for the economic boom? While businesses do certainly contribute to the economy, industry isn't the reason why Florida's economy is expected to soar; the residents that move to the state are largely responsible for its economic growth. Approximately 898 people move to Florida every day, and those new residents bring a tremendous amount of income for the state.

In terms of job growth, the rate of new jobs has been its highest since 2007; however, it is forecasted to slow during 2018. Approximately 180,000 new jobs will be added in 2018, which is slightly less than the new jobs that were added in 2017.

The industries that contribute the most to Florida's economy include:

Agriculture

Aviation & Aerospace

Financial Services

Healthcare

International Trade

Life Sciences

Tourism

Commercial Insurance: Regulations & Limits In Florida

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation regulates insurance in FL. The only type of coverage that business owners must carry is workers' compensation. Organizations in any industry must carry this type of coverage if they employ a staff of hourly or salaried workers. But, organizations that employ three or less people are not legally required to carry this type of coverage.

Business owners are also required to carry commercial auto insurance if they use any vehicles for their operations, such as making deliveries or transporting goods. Commercial liability insurance is another type of coverage that Florida business owners should consider carrying, though they are not legally required to have this type of insurance.

Additional Resources For Food Service Insurance

Learn about restaurants, bars, liquor stores commercial insurance coverages. See how small business food service insurance help protect against accidents, oversights and lawsuits resulting from business operations.

Bars, taverns, restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating and drinking places have significant insurance needs in three separate areas.

The first is property protection for physical damage to equipment, furnishings, building and supplies due to fire and other perils.

The second is premises liability coverage to protect customers due to slips, trips and falls on the premises, as well as for consumption of food products.

The final need is protection for employees due to frequent cuts, burns and other common employee injuries. Establishments that sell or serve liquor or other alcoholic beverages also need liquor liability coverage.

Slips and falls, along with customer illness due to being served tainted food or drink, are the primary liability exposures. The commercial general liability (CGL) is used to provide coverage for these exposures.

It is important to note that liquor liability coverage is excluded under the CGL form if a risk is in the business of serving alcoholic beverages. Many establishments in this category should therefore consider purchasing a separate liquor liability coverage form.

Restaurant kitchen equipment, inventory and dining room fixtures are common exposures for most eating and drinking places. Many of these establishments do not own the buildings they occupy but have long-term leases and have invested money in various improvements and betterments, including cooking equipment, dining room decorations and permanent fixtures.

There are major differences in the food service business and the very different exposures they present. There are many specific types of restaurants to cater to individual needs and tastes. There a several main commercial insurance classifications for food service.

Concessionaires: The most basic "eat on the run" type of restaurant is not classified as a restaurant at all but is referred to as a concessionaire. Class Code 11168: Concessionaires applies and the accompanying note states that all food and beverages must be sold through hawking or peddling. There can be no location to which customers walk up and purchase the food. This classification includes food sold at sporting events, exhibitions, and parks.

Caterers: Are very similar to restaurants with significant differences. The caterer prepares the meals at its own kitchen or commissary and then transports it to the locations where it will be served. Some final preparation may take place at the final location but the majority generally takes place at the caterer's location. The caterer's employees serve the meals and beverages and oversee the consumption of the food.

Restaurants: The way restaurants are categorized and classified uses the percentage of alcoholic beverage sales as the first criteria, followed by other features or operations.

Common to all of these categories is that entertainment-oriented venues such as nightclubs, cabarets, dance halls, discotheques, and comedy clubs must be separately classified and rated. This means that the sales that those entertainment activities generate must be broken out and rated separately from the sale or food and drink.

Also learn about Florida small business insurance requirements for general liability, business property, commercial auto & workers compensation including FL business insurance costs. Call us (954) 399-3996.

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